PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia officials have made a big, renewed push for COVID-19 vaccines.
During Tuesday's weekly briefing, they urged anyone who lives or works in the city to get a shot, and to bring their loved ones.
More than half the city’s adults have now been vaccinated, but cases are still rising.
Related
Philadelphia has set up 274 sites for vaccines, according to Health Commissioner Tom Farley.
The city’s website takes you directly to appointment scheduling, or you can walk up at either of the FEMA clinics, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center or the Esperanza Community Vaccination Center.
"We’re in a different posture now where the limiting factor is less how much vaccine we have available, and more just how many people want to come in and be vaccinated and just how easy we can make it for them," said Farley.
But even as the vaccines become easily available, Farley reported new cases are averaging close to 600 per day, the highest since the beginning of the year.
Related
Hospitalizations are up to 551, and deaths related to COVID-19 are rising as well.
"People are increasingly out and around, getting together with others, dropping their guard, not wearing masks," said Farley.
"We are seeing variants representing an increasing fraction of the viruses that are circulating."
He said that as long as cases and deaths are rising, the city will not be relaxing any restrictions on indoor dining and events.